Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a new housing estate with 78 apartments and houses in Ballinasloe town.
Limehill Esker has been granted approval for a housing development at Dunlo Hill, Ballinasloe consisting of 38 apartments in five blocks and 40 detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses.
The project will also include a creche and offices, along with significant landscaped public open space amounting to roughly a quarter of the 3.44ha site.
The site consists mainly of two green fields adjacent to the east of the Tesco and Aldi stores in the area, and with existing residential developments on three sides.
In order to comply with Part V planning obligations for a portion of housing development to be set aside for affordable or social housing, the developer proposed transferring Block B5, consisting of 4 two-bed maisonette apartments and 4 three-bed duplex apartments, to the county council, which was accepted.
This housing estate will be served by 154 parking spaces, which the developer says are the “minimum necessary” at this location to comply with the Local Area Plan.
The original plans submitted by Limehill Esker were for 88 houses and apartments, but the development was redesigned following a request by the county council on February 21 of this year.
This included removing six apartments from Block A, which also houses the proposed creche, as this land is zoned for ‘Business and Enterprise’ usage.
This building was reduced in height from three storeys to two storeys, with the creche on the ground floor and the first floor designed as offices instead.
A Natura Impact Statement and Hydrological Assessment were also compiled and submitted at the request of the county council.
Galway County Council granted planning permission for the housing development with a total of 35 conditions attached.
The developer was also required to omit units 1, 7, 8, and 9, consisting of two detached houses and two semi-detached houses, from the revised plans in favour of landscaped public open space and additional footpaths.
All electricity, telephone, television, public lighting and other cables associated with the site must be laid underground.
Details of the public landscaping and outdoor playgrounds and gym area must be agreed on in writing with the county council before work begins.
Limehill Esker must also pay the council a contribution of €392,000 towards the provision of public utilities and other services to the development.
